This week has been exciting for me. First I got an email from Instagram saying they’ve added me to their Suggested Users List that highlights the top photographers on Instagram. Then Harper’s Bazaar featured me as one of 17 must-follow travel Instagram accounts. Coming off the back of being listed as Skyscanner’s #1 travel Instagrammer to follow in 2015, it’s been a good start to the year. In appreciation, today I bring you A Lady in London’s 6 Instagram tips for great photos.
Taking good Instagram photos is about more than just slapping a pretty filter on a mediocre picture. It takes time and patience, observation and openness. Above all, it takes a desire to develop good photography skills and be a member of the community.
6 Instagram Tips for Great Photos
Be Patient
Patience is not my virtue. When I first started taking pictures for this blog, I barely stopped walking as I snapped a photo. But over the years I’ve learned the value of being patient when I line up a shot, and the benefit of waiting until the scene is just the way I want it. Sometimes I stand on a busy street for five minutes waiting for traffic to clear so I can get an uninterrupted view of my subject, or until something eye-catching comes into the frame. Other times I spend few extra seconds trying a different angle to see if it captures a subject better. Often these additional moments are what turns a poor photo into a good one.
Be Observant
One of the best parts of my job is that I get to walk around cities and towns all over the world to capture their essence on camera. In doing so, I’ve realized that noticing the little details in addition to the big picture can be helpful. While it’s great to get a photo of Big Ben or the Golden Gate Bridge, the quiet corners of cities can be the most picturesque and rewarding in terms of getting unique images. I’ve also learned that looking up, down, and around while walking along the street can reveal great shots that I would have never noticed had I not been observant.
Be Creative
Instagram has gotten more and more robust over the years in terms of how much editing can be done to photos. In addition to putting filters on pictures, Instagrammers can re-size images, play with brightness and saturation, and rotate to fix a crooked horizon line. Getting creative about editing can really make photos pop, and learning to use the tools and filters on Instagram is a great way to make photos stand out. To get more advanced, there are lots of mobile editing apps that can be used to add more features to photos.
Be Balanced
I hate being in photos. Anyone that has read the A Lady in London blog for awhile knows that I rarely appear in my pictures. But having a balanced mix of photos on an Instagram feed is important. If there are too few photos of you (get in front of the camera!) or too many (put the selfie stick away!), it can be a weak point. The same goes for the type of subjects you photograph. Unless you’re hyper niche, try to aim for a balance of different types of subjects on your feed to show your audience a well-rounded gallery of wide shots and close-ups.
Be Open
I used to think that I had to travel to find good subjects for pictures, but since I started getting into photography I’ve learned that there are things I pass by every day that are worthy subjects. London’s many mews streets have become an obsession, and I can photograph them within five seconds of where I live. Likewise, when I walk around the city, there’s no shortage of things to take pictures of. If I’m patient (see point 1) and observant (see point 2), I can photograph great things every day.
Be Social
Instagram isn’t just a place to share photos; it’s a community like any other social media platform. In addition to sharing, it’s important to be social. Liking and commenting on others’ photos is a great way to be part of the community, as is using relevant hashtags to ensure that people interested in what you’re sharing can discover it (and you). Above all, seeing others’ photos can inspire you to become a better photographer and open your eyes to new techniques and styles that you can use to improve your own photography.
Being featured by Instagram and Harper’s Bazaar has been a true honor. When I started the A Lady in London blog in 2007, I barely knew how to use my old point-and-shoot camera. Sometimes I forget how far I’ve come as a photographer, but things like this remind me to stop and appreciate it. They also make me glad that all the work I’ve put into developing my photography skills has been recognized. As a blogger, I strive to keep the quality of my content high, and getting featured by brands and publications I respect is a great way of seeing my efforts pay off.
But even more than that, the feedback from my readers and Instagram followers has made it worthwhile. Two of you have recently told me that my photos of London helped you get through the dreary winter, providing a daily reminder of why you love the city so much. Two others have mentioned that you’ve seen my photography improve over the years, and still more have taken the time to like and comment on my Instagram photos, blog posts, and other content.
I’m so appreciative of all your support. Your feedback has encouraged me and made me want to keep improving, and has been a great reward in itself. I look forward bringing you more photos of London and the rest of the world in the weeks and years ahead. I hope the images bring as much inspiration to your life and travels as your support has to mine!
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